Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Scotch Game: Lolli Variation

The Lolli Variation is 3.d4 Nxd4, where Black trades the c6 knight for White's d-pawn instead of capturing with the e-pawn. After Nxd4 exd4 Qxd4, White has a centralized queen and a lead in time, while Black hopes to use ...Qf6 and ...c6 to equalize.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4
ECO
C44
Engine
+0.63 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
18,673 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Trade with 4.Nxd4 exd4 and recapture Qxd4 for a dominant queen and free development.
  • Retreat the queen to c4 if hit, then Nc3 and Be3 develop with an easy edge.
  • Taking on e5 with the knight is also good, after ...Ne6 the knight goes to c4.
  • Avoid Bc4: after ...Nxf3+ and Qxf3, Black gets the bishop pair and a comfortable game.

Black

  • After Qxd4, play ...Qf6 to offer a queen trade and hit b2.
  • Use ...c6 and ...b5 to chase the queen and gain queenside space.
  • Against Nxe5, retreat ...Ne6 and develop with ...d6, ...Nf6 and ...c6 for a compact setup.
  • Do not open the center early, because White is ahead in development and has the better queen.

Plans and pawn structure

After the trades on d4, White's queen dominates the center and Black lacks the e5 pawn. White plans Nc3, Be3 and long or short castling, with e5 or f4 for space. Black wants ...Qf6, ...c6 and ...Ne7 for a solid setup, sometimes ...b5 to push the queen around. In the Nxe5 line, White has a lead and the center, and Black's knight on e6 is a solid but passive defender.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.63: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.63 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Qf6 6.Qc4 c6
  2. +0.50 4.Nxe5 Ne6 5.g3 d6 6.Nc4 Nf6
  3. −0.51 4.Bc4 Nxf3+ 5.Qxf3 Qe7 6.a4 c6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

18,673 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.8%.

under 120054.8%
1200–159955.7%
1600–199956.3%
2000 and up61.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Napoleon Gambit4.Nxd4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, play 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.Qxd4, the same position as the Scotch where Black trades knights on d4 after taking with the e-pawn. You get a centralized queen and quick development. Do not play Bc4 here, because ...Nxf3+ gives Black a good game.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.Qxd4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?

The Scotch Game: Lolli Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 Nxd4. Its ECO code is C44.

Is the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.63 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 18,673 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.8%. A practical try for surprise value, but White gets an easy edge with simple moves.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Lolli Variation?

Black takes on d4 with the knight, allowing trades that bring White's queen to d4. White gets central control and development, so Black must play accurately with ...Qf6 and ...c6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxd4, with Nxe5 and Bc4 close behind. 4.Nxd4 trades knights and after ...exd4 Qxd4 White's queen controls the center.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.